Bulk transporting and storing containers



1959 H. N. K. PATON 2,913,029

BULK TRANSPORTING 1mm STORING CONTAINERS FilQd July 12, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 1 II E. 1 l2 [ll I HAMILTON NEILBKING PATON Al IDRNE Nov.17, 1959 H. N. K. PATON 2,

BULK TRANSPORTING AND STORING CONTAINERS Filed July 12. 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HAMILTON NEIL KING PATON ATTORN Nov. 17, 1959 H.N. K. PATON BULK TRANSPORTING AND STORING CONTAINERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR HAMILTON NEIL KING PATON Filed July 12, 1954 Nov. 17, 1959 H.N. K. PAToN 2,913,029

BULK TRANSPORTING AND STORING CONTAINERS Filed July 12, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 4 mveu-ron HAMILTON NEIL KING PATON NOV. 17, 1959 N, T N 72,913,029

BULK TRANSPORTING AND STORING CONTAINERS Filed July 12, 1954 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HAMILTON NEIL KING PATON BY it Z7 r w- IATTORNEYS I United States Patent BULK TRANSPORTING AND STORINGCONTAINERS Hamilton Neil King Paton, Vancouver, British Columbia,Canada, assignor to Paton Holdings Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia,Canada Application July 12, 1954, Serial No. 442,820

2 Claims. (Cl. 150-1) This invention relates to containers particularlyfor transporting and storing dry granular or powdery materials, such assugar, flour, and the like, but which may be used for other materials ifdesired.

An object of the present invention is the provision of transporting orstoring containers which may be pneumatically loaded and discharged.

Another object is the provision of transporting and storing containerswhich may be removably or permanently set up at any desired point orposition, such as in freight cars or trucks, ship holds, aircraft, andstorage quarters.

Another object is the provision of transporting and storing containerswhich are portable and which may be easily handled.

A further object is the provision of transporting and storing containerswhich are designed to collapse into very small bundles when they are notneeded, are easy to assemble and disassemble, and can be adjusted todifferent sizes.

A further object is the provision of transporting and storing containerswhich may be used with or without external bulk heading.

A still further object is the provision of a container including a bagheld in shape and supported by a framework, said bag being reversiblefor cleaning purposes.

Still another object is the provision of containers of the typedescribed including means for controlling the moisture content of thematerial therein.

Yet another object is the provision of a flexible or foldable bagcapable of acting as a transporting and storing container which is verylight in weight and yet may be self-supporting or used with a suitableframework.

One of the big advantages of this equipment is that it can be made inself contained units of a given size and these later adjusted to fitinto spaces of various sizes. Though the container bag may be foldedinto a small bundle, and turned inside out for cleaning purposes orrepairs, granular or powdery material may be directed therein andremoved therefrom by pneumatic equipment without interfering with theintake of the latter.

A bulk transporting and storing container made according to thisinvention includes a flexible bag which is usually formed ofmoisture-proof material, supporting means attached to the bag forsupporting the latter and holding it in shape, and an entrance formed inthe bag through which the materials may be directed into and removedfrom the latter. In one form of the invention, the-supporting means isin the form of a framework, and it is preferable that this framework maybe made extensible in all directions, that is, laterally, longitudinallyand vertically, and that it be made collapsible. In another form, thebag has a substantially vertical peripheral wall, and the supportingmeans is in the form of a plurality of elongated vertical air pocketsformed on this wall throughout the length thereof. In this case, meansis provided for directing air under pressure into and out of thepockets.

2,913,029 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 Examples of this invention areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a diagrammatic longitudinal section through a railroadfreight car having two transporting and storing containers therein,

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one form of transport and storingcontainer,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the line44 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of the framework ofthis container,

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary section taken substantiallyon the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a corner of the frameworkshowing one form of pin for holding the members together,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the bottom of one end of analternative form of framework,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an adapter for connecting twoframeworks together,

Figure 10 illustrates the adapter of Figure 9 in use,

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the top of a frameworkshowing a container for holding a moisture-absorbing material,

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on theline 12-12 of Figure 11,

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 13-13 ofFigure 12,

Figure 14 is a horizontal fragmentary section taken on the line 14-14 ofFigure 12,

Figure 15 is a vertical section through a container bag showing anotherform of receptacle for moisture-absorbing material,

Figure 16 is a fragmentary Veritcal section taken on the line 1616 ofFigure 15,

Figure 17 is a perspective view of an alternative form of transportingand storing container,

Figure 18 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary section taken on theline 18-18 of Figure 17,

Figure 19 is another enlarged section taken on the line 19-19 of Figure17,

Figure 20 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 20--20 ofFigure 17,

Figure 21 is a vertical cross section through a freight car illustratinganother form of container in which the car forms part of the frameworkthereof, and

Figure 22 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 22-22 ofFigure 21.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, 10 is a railroad freightcar having two transporting containers 11 set up therein. Thesecontainers are not intendedto be portable, and they are usually set upin the car and left there, although there is no reason why they cannotbe' collapsed and removed therefrom. In this example, there is acontainer at each end of the car, and each container extends from itsend to a point near the middle of the car. It will be noted that inFigure 2, the container shown therein extends from one side wall to theother of the car. The numeral 12 represents the usual side doors of thecar.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a container 11. This containerincludes a large flexible bag 15 which in this example is rectangular incross section. The bag may be formed of any suitable moisture-proof andfire and vermin-resistant material, such as vinyl or polyethyleneplastic, fiber glass, nylon, or the like. The actual construc tion ofthe bag is not important, as long as it is capable of keeping moisturein or out.

Bag 15 is formed with side walls 16 and 17 fixedly secured at the loweredges thereof to a bottom 18. The

a flap 33 of the same size and shape.

- at side walls are connected to or integral with end walls 20 and 21.The side and end walls form a substantially vertical peripheral wall forthe bag. The bag also has a flat top or cover 23 which preferably ispermanently connected to the side and end walls. In this example, thecover is provided with an upwardly projecting peripheral flange 24extending around the edges thereof. The cover is of such size that itfits down within the side'and end walls of the bag with its flangebearing against said walls at the upper edges thereof, as clearly shownin Figures 3 and 4. Aligned'holes are formed in the upper edges of theside and end walls of the bag in the cover flange 24, and these may bereinforced by metal eyelets to form grommets 26. The flange of the coveris secured to the bag walls in any suitable way in order to provide amoisture-proof seal therebetween. A suitable adhesive may be used forthis purpose, or if the bag and cover are formed of plastic material,they may be heat-sealed together.

A-suitable entrance is provided for the bag 15 near the top thereof, andthis entrance is preferably large enough to permit the bag to be turnedinside out for cleaning or repair purposes. In Figure 3, the entrance isformed in the cover 23 and is in the form of a large hole 32 having Thisflap is connected to the cover along an edge 34, while the remainder ofthe flap is removably connected to the cover by suitable means, such asa zipper 35. If desired, an air hole with a similar flap may be providedin the cover, although this is not absolutely necessary if the hole 32is made large enough. If another hole is provided, it may have asuitable air filter in it to remove particles from air leaving orentering the bag during the loading and unloading thereof.

Supporting means is provided for the bag, and in Figures 1 to 4 it is inthe form of a suitable framework 40. This framework is substantially thesame size and shape as the bag. While the framework may be set up insidethe bag, it is preferable to mount it outside the latter, as shown. Itis also desirable to make this framework adjustable and collapsible. Theframework is preferably formed of tubular stock which may be aluminum oran aluminum alloy, in order to make it as light as possible.

The framework includes side members extending longitudinally of the bagalong the top and bottom of the side walls 16 and 17 thereof, endmembers extending along the top and bottom of the end walls 20 and 21,and vertical corner members located at the four corners of the bag. Someor all of these members may be made in sections so that the lengths ofthe respective members may be adjusted. Each end of the framework maycomprise upper and lower transverse members 4-3 and 44, said uppermember being divided into sections 45 and 46 connected together by asleeve 47, while the lower member may be in the form of sections 49 andt? connected together by a sleeve 51. Suitable pins 53 and 54 mayrespectively connect the upper member sections 45 and 46 to sleeve 47and the lower member sections 4? and '50 to sleeve 51. These pins extendthrough aligned holes in the members and sleeves. The outer ends of theupper and lower transverse members 43 and 44 adjustably fit into tubularcorner pieces 56 and 57 having inwardly extending sockets 58 and 59 forreceiving said ends. Pins 69 and 61 extending through aligned holes inthe corner sockets and the transverse members hold the same together.Vertical corner members 63 removably fit into vertically-disposedsockets 64 and 65 of the corner pieces 56 and 57 at each side of theframework. These corner members are removably held in position by pins68 at the opposite ends thereof. if desired, one or more vertical bracesmay be provided between the upper and lower transverse members 43 and44. In this example, there is one vertical brace member 79 locatedsubstantially midway between the corner members 63 at the opposite endsofthe transverse members. The brace member 70 is provided with pins 71projecting from its opposite ends which members 8%.

fl are adapted to extend into holes in the sleeves 47 and 5.1, as shownin Figures 5 and 6.

The pins used in this framework may be of any desired type, such ascotter pins or the like. One form of pin is illustrated in Figure 7which shows the corner pieces 56. A pin 63a has a shank 74 with a loop75 at one end and a drop head 76 at its opposite end pivotally connectedthereto by a pivot pin 77. The head 76 is lined up with the shank, andthen it and the shank are moved through aligned holes in the cornermember 63 and the corner piece socket 64. Then the pin is turned untilthe pivot 77 lies in a horizontal plane, at which time the head 76 dropsdownwardly out of line with the pin shank so that the pin is held inposition.

Upper and lower side members 80 and 81 extend respectively between theupper corner piece 56 and the lower corner pieces 57, at opposite endsof the framework. The side members fit into sockets 82 and 83 in theupper and lower corner pieces, respectively, and are removably connectedthereto in the same manner as the upper and lower transverse end piecesare connected to their sockets. in this example, the upper member 80 isformedin three sections, 85, 86 and 8'7, removably connected together bysleeves 39 and 99, while the lower member 81 is also formed in sections92, 93 and 94 removably connected together by sleeves 96 and 97. Ifdesired, one or-more vertical braces 99 may be provided. Two of thesebraces are shown in Figure 3, and they are connected to the sleeves ofthe upper and lower side members 80 and 81 in the same manner as the endbraces 70 are connected to sleeves 47 and 51. In addition to this, oneor more cross brace members Elli) may extend between the upper sideThese brace members may also be connected to the sleeves of the upperside members in the some manner as vertical braces 99.

The flexible bag 15 is located within the frame work 40 just described.Suitable means, such as a rope or lacing 101 is provided for securingthe bag to the framework. The rope is threaded through grommets 26 and27 around the upper edges of the bag and is wound around the upper endand side members 43 and 80, see Figures 3 and 4. The bottom of the bagmay be provided with a flange 162 projecting outwardly from the edgesthereof, said flange having a plurality of grommets 193 therein throughwhich a rope or lacing 104 is threaded, said rope or lacing being woundaround the lower end and side members 44 and 81, as shown in Figure 3.-Instead of continuous ropes 101 and 104, an individual rope or asuitable clip may be provided at each grommet. When the bag is fullyextended, the framework 40 is drawn out to its maximum size. However,with the adjustments described above, the framework may be contractedconsiderably, in which case there would beat] excess of bag, but theframe would still hold it'generally in its proper shape. This allows theframework and bag to be adjusted to spaces of different sizes sothatfulladvantage may be taken of all the space available.

When it is desired to use the transporting and'storing containerdescribed so far, the cover flap 33 is opened and the material to betransported or stored is blown into or otherwise placed in the bag 15.As this bag is held in shape by the framework 40, there is no danger ofany waste space resulting from portions of the bag folding over otherportions thereof. When the bag is full or nearly full, the flap 33 isclosed and secured in this position by means of zipper 35. As the hole32 is relatively big, air can escape from the bag during the fillingoperation through this hole. The various members of the framework holdthe sides of the bagfrom bulging out too far under the load of itscontents. Furthermore, the bag being flexible, will bulge out into thespaces between the frame members so that there is very little less ofstorage or transporting space as a result of the framework. With thiscontainer, the bottom of the bag 15 rests on the floor of the freightcar "or storage the vertical brace members may be omitted since the'side and end walls of the car would prevent the bag from bulging too farout of the frame. With this arrangement shown in Figure 1, verticalbraces may be employed in the adjacent ends of the frames of the twocontainers 11. On the other hand, the bag end may be made strong enoughto withstand the strain without these vertical brace members.

When it is desired to discharge the contents of the container, flap 33is opened and a suitable suction spout lowered, not shown, into the bag15 through hole 32. The suction equipment can remove all the granular orpowdery material in the bag without interference from the latter sinceit is held in its proper shape at all times by the framework. It is avery simple matter to move the intake of the suction equipmentthroughout the bag.

If it is desired to clean the bag after it has been used, the ropes 98and 101 may be unlaced to release the bag from the framework. After thisis done, the bag may be turned inside out through the relatively largehole 32.

The bag 15 may be made of transparent or translucent material in orderthat the level of the material contained therein may be easily seen fromthe outside of the bag. However, vertical strips of transparent ortranslucent material may be sewn in the side and/or end walls of the bagin order that the level of the material inside the latter may be seen.

If it desired to store the container or to ship it in empty condition,it is a very simple matter to take the framework 40 apart and to foldthe bag 15 into a neat bundle. The various parts of the framework andthe bag will then take up very little space.

The framework described above makes the container self supporting bothinternally and externally so that it does not require any outsidesupport, such as bulk heading. The container may be made small enough sothat it is portable in its erected state, or it may be made on a largescale for storing large quantities of material, in which case, it wouldnot be portable, excepting in the collapsed state. The framework may beexpanded or contracted to different sizes to suit the space available.As the framework and bag are very light compared to the size of theunit, this container may be conveniently used for shipping by air. Theframework prevents the bag from collapsing when material is being suckedout of it. If by any chance the pneumatic discharge equipment breaksdown or if there is no such equipment at a point where the contents ofthe container are to be removed, said contents may be removed manuallyor me chanically through the large hole 32 in the cover of the bag.

Figure 8 illustrates a framework 40a which may be moved about oncasters, wheels or rollers. This frame work is constructed in the samemanner as the previouslydescribed framework 40. Lower side members 81afit into the corner pieces 62a at their opposite ends. A lower crossmember 44a and vertical corner members 63a also fit into these cornerpieces. The corner pieces 62a are provided with casters 105, and sincethere are similar corner pieces at the opposite end of the framework,casters are also provided at said opposite end. In this case, it isdesirable to support the bottom of the flexible bag, not shown, which iscarried by this framework above the ground or floor upon which thecasters 138 to be raised or lowered.

rest. This may be accomplished by providinga plurality of crosssupporting members 108 extending between and secured to the oppositelower side members 81a. This provides a platform for the bottom of thebag.

It may sometimes be helpful or necessary to connect two or more of thecontainer units together in end to end relationship in order to savespace. The adjacent ends of two frameworks may be connected together,and an adapter has been provided for this purpose. The ordinary ends ofthe two frameworks are removed and adapter 110 substituted therefor, seeFigures 9 and 10. This adapter includes two upper-corner pieces 112 andtwo lower corner pieces 113. Each of the upper pieces includes a tube115 forming two oppositely-extending horizontal sockets 116 and 117 forreceiving the upper side members 8% and 800 respectively of the twoframeworks. Each corner piece is provided with a lateral socket 118projecting inwardly therefrom substantially midway between the ends oftube 115, and with a veritcal socket 119 near the lateral socket andextending substantially at right angles thereto. Similarly, each lowercorner piece 113 includes a tube 120 forming horizontal sockets 122 and123, a lateral socket 124, and a vertical socket 125. Sockets 122 and123 are adapted to receive the ends of the lower side members 81b and81c of the two frameworks. Upper and lower transverse members 127 and128 fit into the transverse sockets of the upper and lower cornerpieces, respectively, while vertical supporting members 130 fit into thevertical sleeves of said corner pieces at opposite sides of theframework. The adapter 110 actually eliminates the necessity of one ofthe ends of the two frameworks to be joined together.

.Figure 10 shows flexible bags 15b and 15e laced at their adjacent endsto the adapter 110. It is obvious that any number of bags may besupported in a row with these adapters between the adjacent endsthereof. The bags will form individual compartments for the material ormaterials to be shipped or stored.

It may be desirable to control the moisture content of the materialcarried by this container during shipment or storage. In this case,means may be provided for holding a moisture absorbing material, such assilica gel, in the bag. Figures 11 to 14 illustrate one form ofapparatus for doing this. In Figure 11, the upper side members 80d of aframework carry a transverse support 135. A loop 136 is carried by thissupport and a vertical rod 138 slidably extends through this loop, saidrod having a plurality of holes 139 therethrough. A pin 140 extendsthrough holes in the sides of the loop and through one of the holes 139to support this rod. The rod extends downwardly through the top or coverof a flexible bag 15d. As it is desirable to provide a moisture proofjoint for this purpose, a neck 143 formed of flexible material, may beprovided having a flange 144 at its lower end, which is sewn, glued orotherwise secured to the bag top or cover. Rod 138 extends upwardlythrough this neck 143, and a clamp 146 extending around the neck may betightened to secure the latter to the rod.

A container 148 is carried by the lower end of rod 138. This containermay extend lengthwise through the entire bag near the top thereof, or itmay extend "through any portion of it. The container 148 has anelongated main body 150 for holding moisture-absorbing material 151. Thesides 152 of the container may slope inwardly from the bottom towardsthe top thereof in order to prevent any accumulated moisture fromslopping out through the container top. A cover 154 is slidably mount edon the topv of the container and has holes 155 therein.

The position of container 148 in the bag may be ad: justed vertically byloosening clamp 146.and withdrawing pin 140 from loop 136 in order topermit the rod Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a bag 15e having analternative form of. moisture controlling apparatus. In this case, thebag is provided'with one or more elongated open-toppedpockets 160 formedof flexible material secured to and extending along a wall thereof nearits top. A. plurality of straps 161 extend from the outer side of thepocket to the adjacent bag side in order to hold the pocket in position.An elongated container 163 is removably fitted in this pocket and holdsthe moisture controlling material 164. This container is provided with aremovable top 165 having holes 166 therein. In either of thealternatives illustrated, in Figures 11 to 16, moisture absorbingmaterial iskept in the flexible bag of the transporting and storingcontainer in order to protect the contents of the latter from moisture.

Figures 17 to 20 illustrate a shipping and storing conmine;- which maybe used with or without the framework described above. For mostpurposes, a framework will notbe required, but in some cases, such as ina freight car,a light framework of any suitable design may be used inorder to support the weight of'a man or men above the container when itis being filled or emptied, or during the setting up or taking down ofthe container in the car.

This container includes a flexible bag 175 formed of light and usuallymoisture-proof, fireproof and verminproof material. It is preferable toform the bag with side and end walls 176 and 177 which combine to formasubstantially vertical peripheral wall around the bag. The bag also hasa bottom 180 and a top or cover 181 with'at least one entrance oropening 182 in the latter. Said entrance may be of any desired size andshape, andis provided with a suitable closure, such as a flap, 183,which is held in the closed position by a Zipper 184.

Pneumatic supporting means is provided for this bag, and it ispreferably in the form of a plurality of vertical pockets attached tothe inner or outer surface of the peripheral wall and extendingthroughout the length thereof. These pockets may be formed in anydesired manner. In the illustrated example, a plurality of verticalpockets 188 are formed along the outer surface of the peripheralwall bya layer of suitable flexible and air impervious material 189 whichextends around the wall. This material is secured to the wall along aplurality of spaced vertical strips 190 in any desired manner, such asby sewing, gluing, heat treatment or the like. The pockets are formed bysubstantially semi-circular loops 191 of the material between the strips190, see Figure 18. The lower edge of the material 189 is secured to thelower edgeof the peripheral wall at 194, see Figure 20. Theupper edge ofthis material is secured to the upper edge of the wall at 195, but thevertical strips 190 terminate below this upper edge at 196. This resultsin a tube 197 which is formed by this material'and extendshorizontallyaround the top of the peripheral wall of the bag. This tubeforms a passage into which the upper ends of the pockets 188 open.Suitable means is provided through which air under pressure may bedirected through this passage into the pockets and out of the latter. Itis also advantageous to divide the. pockets into groups so that if oneof them is punctured, only the pockets of its group will be deflated.For example, the material 189 may be secured to the container wall fromthe top to the bottom thereof at each of the corners, as indicated at199, and at least one point 2430 in each of the side walls. With thisarrangement, the pockets at each end of the bag form a group, and thoseon each side wall are divided into at least two groups, two being' shownin Figure 17. A filler tube 204 is provided for each group of pockets,each of said tubes communicating with the tube or passage 197 of thegroup and has a valve, not shown, arrangement therein.

When the bag is placed at a suitable location, such as in the freightcar 10, the pockets 188 thereof are inflated with air or other suitablegas under pressure through the tube or tubes 204. When this is done, thepockets become vertical columns which are roughly semicircular in crosssection andwhich provide support for the side and end walls of the bagfrom the tops ,to the bottoms thereof. These pockets when inflatedactually form vertical stiflfeners for keeping the bag in shape, when itis being filled or discharged. The layer of material 189 actually formsan outer wall for the bag which protects the inner wall thereof fromabrasion, puncture, etc. and the inflated pockets act as buffers for thebag. 'If desired, the outer wall material may be coated with a heavysealing compound similar to that used in aircraft fuel tanks. A bagformed in this manner will stand rigidly by itself and does not normallyrequire any further support. However, a framework such as describedabove in a somewhat simplified form, may be provided if necessary. Aspreviously stated, such as framework would be mainly for supporting theweight of men working above the bag.

Figures 21 and 22 show a shipping and storage container mounted in afreight car, and the latter forms part of the framework for keeping thebag of the container in shape during the filling and discharge thereof.Freight car 210 has the usual side walls 211 and floor 212. One sidewall only is illustrated in Figures 21 and 22, it beingunderstood thatthe opposite side wall and the parts associated therewith are the sameas this one. A flexible bag 15 similar to the one shown in Figure 3 -isset up in this car. Rows of upper and lower hooks 215 and 216 arepositioned in the car spaced downwardly from the top thereof and nearthe floor thereof, respectively. These books may be mounted directly onthe wall 211 or, as preferred, they may be secured to beams 219 and 220which, in turn, are securedtothe .c'ar wall or floor by any suitablemeans, such as nails. It will be understood that similar beams and booksmay be provided on the end walls, not shown, of the car. If desired,sheets of lining material 223 and 224 may be placed against the wallsand floor of the car, as shown. These sheets may be formed of anysuitable material, such as cardboard, either plain or corrugated.

In order to provide for men working at the top of the bag, a pluralityof stringers 226 may rest on the upper edges of the beams 219 which aresecured to the car side walls spaced a little below the tops thereof. Acatwalk may be formed by one or more planks 227 on the stringers andextending longitudinally of the car.

The bag 15 is set up in the car 210 by placing the grommets at thebottom of the bag over the lower hooks 216 and the grommets 26, 27 atthe top of the bag over hooks 215. Whenthe bag is filled with material,such as flour, it will assume a shape somewhat like that illustrated inFigure 21. This bag has one or more entrances, not shown, through whichthe material may be directed thereinto and removed therefrom. If such anequipment is used for this removal, the hooks of the framework formed bythe car prevent the bag from collapsing at this time. The bag may beremoved from the car merely by freeing it from the hooks thereof. Thehooks may be left in the car or, if desired, the beams 219 and 220 maybe removed after the bag has been taken out-of the car.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A bulk transporting and storing container which is light in weight, acomplete unit on its own, may be collapsed into a very small bundle, andused an infinite number of times, comprising a flexible bag, said bagbeing substantially rectangular in cross section, a collapsibleframework substantially the same size and shape as the bag outside andsurrounding the latter; said framework comprising upper and lowerlongitudinal and transverse members adjustably fitting into sockets incorner pieces at opposite ends of the framework, and vertical cornermembers extending between and adjustably fitting into other sockets insaid corner pieces to keep the upper transverse and longitudinal membersspaced from the lower transverse and longitudinal members; meansremovably securing the bag around the top and bottom thereof to theframework so that the latter holds the bag in shape during loading anddischarge, an entrance for the bag, and means for closing said entrance.

2. A bulk transporting and storing container which is light in weight, acomplete unit on its own, may be collapsed into a very small bundle, andused an infinite number of times, comprisinga flexible bag, said bagbeing substantially rectangular in cross section, a collapsibleframework substantially the same size and shape as the bag outside andsurrounding the latter; said framework comprising upper and lowertubular longitudinal and transverse members removably and adjustablyfitting into sockets in corner pieces at opposite ends of the framework,and vertical tubular corner members extending between and removably andadjustably fitting into other sockets in said corner pieces to keep theupper transverse and longitudinal members spaced from the lower transverse and longitudinal members; means removably securing the upper andlower corners of the bag to the upper and lower transverse andlongitudinal members of the framework, an entrance for the bag, andmeans for closmg said entrance.

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